A Met chief who announced a series of cuts to frontline services has himself become a victim of the financial crisis facing the force.

Southwark borough commander Charles Griggs, 52, says he has been forced to quit because of slashed budgets — days after he revealed that two south London police stations would be recommended for closure and the buildings sold.

Chief Supt Griggs leaves today after 34 years of service.

In a leaked email to Southwark council chief executive Eleanor Kelly, he said the Met could not afford to keep him on for his full three-year contract as due to budget cuts “it has not been possible for the MPS to honour their commitment” to it.

A Met spokeswoman said Mr Griggs was “retiring”.

Tessa Jowell, Labour MP for Dulwich, said: “Here we have an experienced, dedicated police officer who has served the borough in an outstanding way, who seems to have been treated as a budget cut.

"Will we see the Met stripped of experienced borough commanders? I want to know how it squares with [Boris Johnson’s] commitment… that there will be no cuts to frontline services.”